Lamp socket and adjustable support therefor



Oct. 4, w FABREY LAMP SOCKET AND ADJUSTABLE SUPPORT THEREFOR Filed May 14. 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Oct. 4, 1932. w, FABREY 1,880,952

LAMP SOCKET AND ADJUSTABLE SUPPORT THEREFOR Filed May 14, 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 gwtmntoz abl ocmqv 259 socket,

Patented Dot. 4, 1932 U ITED STATES PATENT orsics WILLIAM H. FABREY, F sonm'mornnv, new YonK, assreivon TO THE EB R} ELECTRIC COMPANY, or SGHENECTAIDY, NEW YORK, A oonronn'rron or NEW'YORK LAMP SOCKETAKD ADJUSTABLE SUPPORT THEREFOR Application filed May 14, 1928. Serial No. 277,518.

' The present invention relates to electric light fixtures and more particularly to a de vice for mounting an electric lamp socket upon a wall, ceiling, or the like. A An object of the invention is to provide a socket holding device adaptedto receive a socket having a metallic shell and which may be readily adjusted to adaptthe same to a wall or ceiling canopy which encloses the der vice, whereby the canopy may be supported thereon without the necessity for independently attaching the same to the wall or ceil- 1n A further object of the invention is to provide a socket holder or support of readily adjustable construction and which is therefore adaptable to canopies of various types and sizes. 'As is well-known, canopies vary in depth and it is desirable in mounting the particularly with a fixture which serves also to support, the canopy, that the mounting or holding instrumentality be adjustable so as to position the socket and its holder at a distance from the wall or ceiling 5 corresponding to the depth of the canopy.

A-still further object of the invention is to provide an improved socket construction which may be rigidly and permanently secured to the mounting device without the a necessity for adjustment of the socket.

More particularly, theinvention seeks to provide a socket shellconstruction formed for fixed, and preferably permanent, attachment to the mounting device and which is we formed so that the interior parts are releasably and detachably connectable with the shell whereby these parts may be removed from the mounting device although the shell is permanently attached thereto.

I am aware that there have heretofore been developed mounting devices for sockets com prising an annulus having means, such as an upwardly projecting arm, adapted to extend over the socket to retain the interiorparts therein or over a laterally extending portion of the socket such as the chain exit. The present invention seeks to simplify devices of this character by forming the socket shell itself and the interior parts so that they are releasably connected and thus dispensing with thenecessity for employing a retaining means for the interior parts upon the mounting device proper.

, The invention comprises broadly an element such as an annulus, adapted to receive therein an electric lamp socket having a metallic shell with an intermediate shoulder which abuts the annulus so as to limit move .ment of the socket in one direction therethrough. i 1

The socket shell is preferably formed with an out-struck shoulder adapted to prevent withdrawal of the shell from the annulus and thus permanently secure the shell to'the annulus, which is formed with upstanding arms adapted to cooperate with corresponding arms upon a mounting bracket adapted to be secured to an outlet stud or the like. The invention also. comprises means for automatically locking the annulus. arms in adjusted position upon the bracket arms so that the socket and annulus may be quickly fixed in position. 7 These and other features and objects of the invention will become clearer as the description proceeds in connection with the preferred embodiment shown in the accompanying drawings wherein Figure 1 is a vertical sectionalview of an assembled unit. 1

Figure 2 is a side elevational view with the canopy removed. V

Figure 3 is a sectional view on theline 33 of Figure 2. b Figure 4 is a bottom plan view of the unit illustrated in Figure 2. Figure 5 is a part elevational and part sectional view, the mounting device having associated therewith a modified formof socket of the keyless type.

' interior socket parts removed from the shelli Figure 8 is a bottom lan of the unit illus Figure 6 is a plan view partly in section. Figure 7 is a side elevational view of the trated in Figure 5. r a V Figure 9 isa vertical sectional view taken through the socket shell, showing more clearly the retaining means for the interior socket arts and m P a Figure 10 is a-fragmentary Vertical sec- -tional view showingtheifor matiou of the o shell to retain the same againstwithdhawal from the annulus Referring to the tional' type of outlet havinga fixture secur- 7 ing means, such asastudll, the outlet being I set within a wall or ceiling Wan d'be'ing concealed by a canopy C which; as-il'lust-nated is of the conventional type having an intermediate inturned flange 12, andaninverted cupshaped portion1. 3'whiclrmay receive a reflect'or or globe. The socket mounting device comprises an element having a -central open- 'ing'to receive a socket-Shell such as the annulus 14 having a central openingli5 into which the metallic shell S of a'socket is inserted. The annulus has a supporting portion such as oneor more upstanding 15 adapted toicooperate-with parts or iarnis 17'ofla substantially invertedfU 'shaped bracket, the

crosshead 18Lof which has a. threaded apertureil9iadapted to receivetheistud' 111 The arms 16 and; 17. i are formed? with coma plemental guiding means such as the 'lugs20 arranged, in the V-pne'sent instance; upon the arms-16 and havingthein endsz21 bent to ward one anotherandljuxtaposed to form a channel receiving thearms l6, Thexarms-IG and 17 are-'also provided: with complemental locking means whereby. as'lthe annulus is moved along the bracket .anms '17, it' maybe locked automatically -in1 selected. position. This locking. meansin the present instance takesthelform cat a series ofiteet'h' 22Eformed aiong' each edge of'a slot'QB e -tending longitudinally of each; arm 17'. These teeth are formed by deflecting each edge oztthexslot 28 and thus two series' ofi teeth: 22: are provi'dednpon each arm 17;, To-cooperatewith theseteeth each of the a'nruilus arms 16 is provided with a yielding: detent formedby a fiat piece of spring metal'e 24 riveted atj25 Y to: the inner face. of then arm"1'6. The'detent is bent at 26 to provide a laterally extenddrawings for almore detailed. description, 10indicates thdconvcnshoulders into engagement with these teeth. As the annulus 14 with its arms 16 is moved upwardly along the bracket arms the detent shoulders 30 spring automatically above the top of the horizontally aligned tooth and thus prevent the annulus from moving downwardly under the weight of the socket and other parts unless the shoulders are disengaged from the teeth by inwardpressure upon thefinger portions 29; The lugs 20 guide theannulus and its arms 16 along the bracket arms-and-resist any lateral movement of the annulus and its socket on the bracket.

.Thesocketshell Shas the usualintermediate shoulder which rests upon the annulus around its central opening, and, beneath the annulus, portions got the shell are struck out to provide a plurality or out-struck shoul- Jdersi32 (Figures 3tand 4:) which resist movement of the shell upwardly in the'annulus; Consequently, the circumferential shoulder 31- and the small out-struck shoulders 32'per manently secure the socket shell and annulus together." Rotation of the shellwithin the annulus may be prevented by depressingportions 33; from" the-fannulus and suitably arranging these-portions with relation to the shoulder 82, for'inst'ance, as illustrated in Figure 4:," which shows the depressions 33 between:adjacent socket shoulders- 32, so that any rotation offthe ,shell' will be obstructed by -en-gagement-of shoulders 32 and 33.

The canopy may be supported from the deviceby the clamping ring 35' threaded upon the socket shell anCTCar-rying a sleeve -36'- of porcelain or other finishing or dielectric ma terial. This ring serves to clamp the inturned flange 12 of the c'anopygagainst the under: faceofthe annulus 14 and thereby'support the canopy from'the bracket arms 17;

I 'In order to c omplete'the device, it is simply necessary to provide means for retaining the interior parts o'f the socket against-movement in the socket shelll' In devices of this nature which haveheretoforebeen developed, it has been customary to form upon the annulus 14 a suitable means such as an upstanding arm to extend over the top-o'fthe shell or over a lateral projection from the interior parts. and

thus dispense with the usual shell cap which is" objectionable in a'unit of this character.

The present invention seeks to simplify the I construction of the mounting device by form'- ing the socket she'll so that it will serve to retain the parts therein and thus render unnecessary the provision of such means upon the mounting bracket. In Figure 1,] the shell Si formed with aslot 37 inclined downwardly from the upper edge. ofuthe shell and then substantially circuinferentially directed at. 38. to form a horizontal seat for the chain guide or exit 39-whioh is rigidly secured to the interior parts. Withsuch aconstruction it is simply necessary to insert the. partsand to 5 plane of the arm, and an adjustable support ing inclined wedging undersurfaces whereon said arm having a detent engageable with said teethand extending through the slot in said arm.

5. In a device of the'class described, a bracket having a head portion adapted to be attached to an outlet stud and provided with a longitudinally slotted arm arranged to extend away from the stud, teeth on the arm along an edge of the slot formed bilaterally deflecting the arm along transverse lines whereby tl e teeth extend away from the longitudinalplane of the arm, an adjustable support on the arm having a detent movable toward and from the arm face, said teeth havby to permit free movement of a cooperating detent in one direction.

6. In a device of the class described, a bracket having a head portion adapted to be secured to an outlet stud, and provided with an arm adapted to extend away from the outlet stud, said arm being formed with a longitudinal slot, and having a series of. teeth formed along an edge of the slot and deflector from the edge along lines extending transversely of the arm without completely breaking through the web of the arm, whereby to project away from the face of the arm, and an adjustable socket support having a detent movable toward and from the face of the arm. i i i 7. In a device of the classdescribed, a bracket having a head portion adapted to'be secured to an outlet stud, and provided with an arm adaptedto extend away from the outlet stud, said arm being formed with a longitudinal slot, and having a series of teeth formed along an edge of the slot and deflected away from the edge along lines extending transversely of the arm without breaking completely through the web of the arm, an adjust-able socket support on the arm having a detent member movable to .ward and from the face of the arm, said teeth having inclined wedging adjacent surfaces whereby to permit free movement of a detent in one direction. 7

' 8. In a device of the class described, a bracket having a head portion adapted to be *attached to an outlet stud and an arm arranged to extend away from the stud, said arm being longitudinally bifurcated to form a longitudinally extending slot and teeth on i the arm along an edge of the slot, said teeth being formed by deflecting laterally the ma-' terial of the arm along lines extending trans:

versely of the arm.

9. In a device ofthe class described, a

bracket having a head portion adapted to be attached to an outlet stud and, an arm are my hand; I

- WILLIAM H. FABREY.

his

iio

- movement of the interior parts islresistedl The corner 40 may bevbent inwardly to facili: tate entrance of the :chain exitinto its seat. To remove the parts it' is sim plysnec'essary to press'theinterior parts upwardlyandrat the same time to rotate the same slightly so that the throat guide will followthe curve of the Referring to Figures 5 to 10, inclusive, the mounting device has assembled therewith a keyless socket, the shell 42 ofwhich has the usual intermediate shoulder 43 resting upon the annulus 14 and a plurality of shoulders 44 struck out from the shell beneath the annulus to resist upward movement of the shell. Rotation of the shell within the annulus is prevented by means of the depressed portions 33 upon the annulus which are suitably disposed to engage the shoulders 44 struck out from the shell as illustrated in Figure 8.

lV-ithin the, shell is arranged a liner 45 of suitable insulating material and the interior p, parts or'mechanism which include, asis custo- 7 mary, the threaded socket portion 46 and dithe interior parts.

electric material 47. The parts47 of dielectric material are received within the shell with suitable clearance to permit compression of the shell (Figure 6) and the shell and parts are formed with complemental portions which are adapted to releasably interconnect when the parts are inserted, whereby to resist a substantially upward movement or rotation of V The shell has diametrically' opposed in-struck portions 48 spaced downwardly from the upper edge 49 of the shell;these in-struck portions terminate in downwardly facing shoulders 50 and have lateral faces 51. 'To receive the in-struck portions 51 the ports of dielectric material are formed with vertically disposed ribs 52,

each rib having a longitudinally extending groove 53 terminating in a lower end wall 54. The interior parts are inserted in the shell with the grooves 53 aligned with the in-struck portions 51, and, to assist in obtaining this alignment, theshell has a plurality of spaced instruck shoulders 55 facing one another circumferentially of the shell and disposed at opposite sides of the in-struck portions 51 above the latter. To obtain the'proper alignment of thegrooves 53 with the in-struck portions 51 it is simply necessary to insert the ribs 52 between the facing shoulders 55 and thereafter topress the parts downwardly. When the parts are inserted (Figure 5) the lower ends 50 of in-struck portions 51 will said annulus, a socket shell projecting parment of the shell in the oppositev direction,

ranged to extend away from the stud, and

within theshell. i Rotation will also be prevented by the guiding shoulders 55 which are disposed, as illustrated in Figure 6, at op-. posite sides 'ofthe ribs 52. f Y Y Toremove the parts from the shell it is simply necessary to compress the shell in-v I wardly at points intermediate the complemental-engaging parts 51, 53 above described.

Thesepoints and the direction of compression .areindicated by the arrows 57 in Figure 6; Compressionof the shell as indicated by the arrows, which is facilitated by a slot 58, will cause displacement outwardly from above walls 54 of the/terminals or ends 50 of in-struck portions 51. on the shell and after this displacement. the socket parts maybe prelssed upwardly and withdrawn from the shell;

Obviously, numerous modifications 'may be made in the structure described without departing from. the invention which is defined in the following claims.

.WhatIclaimisy- 1. A device'of the class described comprising an annulus, means for supporting said annulus, 'a socket shell projecting partially through said annulus and'having a reduced neck portion merging with a larger body-portion at a'circumferentially extending shoulder whichlimits movement of the shell in one direction through the annulus-,a shoulder struck out from the, shell body at the opposite. side of the annulus from said first mentioned shoulder and opposing movement of the shell int-he opposite direction, said annulus having a projectingmeans cooperable with said shoulders to limit rotative movement of theshell within the annulus.

,2.A device of the class. described comprising an annulus, means for supporting tially through .said annulu's and having a reduced neck portion merging with a larger body porti-onat a circumferentially extending shoulder which limits movement of the shell in one direction through the annulus, a shoulder struck outfrom the shell body at the opposite side of the annulus from said first mentioned shoulder and opposing movefie said annulus having a portion cooperating with said struck out shoulder onthe shell to limit rotativemovementof the shellwithin the annulus: v

-3."'In' a device ofthe class 'described,a brackethaving a head portion adapted to be. attached to an outlet stud,:a longitudinally slottedor bifurcatedarm on saidbracket arteeth on the arm along an edge offthe slot,

' said teethbeing deflected laterally awayfrom said edge.

v device. of the class described, a

bracket havingahead portion adapted to be attached to an outlet stud and provided with. 

